The days of drivers chatting on mobile phones perched on their laps are over.
The Victorian government is set to outlaw the habit, along with the use of loose GPS units.
From November 9, drivers will only be able to use hand-held mobile phones and navigation devices if they are inserted in a fixed holder.
Drivers who flout the laws will risk fines of $234, plus the loss of three demerit points for mobile phone offences.
The government says the tougher requirements will increase road safety and clarify the rules about talking on the phone while behind the wheel.
But exactly what will constitute an offence is uncertain, and doubts have been raised over whether the laws will have any impact.
According to VicRoads, drivers may only use a hands-free mobile phone or one that is in a fixed holder and can be operated without being touched.
Holding a phone, including resting it on the driver's lap will be an offence, regardless of whether or not it is being used.
There is no mention of phones in pockets, centre consoles or on passenger seats.
Roads Minister Tim Pallas said the laws were in line with national standards and would give drivers clarity about using their phones lawfully.
"It just provides greater enforcement capacity," he said.
Mr Pallas said talking on a hand-held mobile phone while driving quadrupled the risk of a crash.
But the Monash University Accident Research Centre says no research has been done on the risk of talking on speaker mode, compared with hands-free earpieces and headsets.
There was little difference between using a hand-held phone and hands free, the centre says.
"The crash risk is really the same for both, and it increases by about four times - that's been found for hand-held and hands-free," research fellow Kristie Young said.
"It's really the act of having a conversation on the phone that's distracting, although holding the phone can have some added safety issues, such as not having two hands on the wheel."
But Ms Young said she supported the new laws.
The opposition says the laws have been rushed and the government hasn't done its homework.
"It just reeks of a nanny-state announcement," opposition transport spokesman Terry Mulder said.
"If they've tried to provide clarity, they've done nothing other than to confuse the community about what their intentions are and what the laws are going to be. Does it mean that you can't carry a telephone in your pocket even if you're not using it? It seems quite bizarre."
Victoria's peak motoring body, the RACV, says the new laws are a good start to tackling risky driver behaviour.
RACV traffic and transport chief engineer Peter Daly said reducing distractions for drivers would help cut road accidents.
VICTORIA may as well be called , the POLICE STATE.
FACT : As the population increases, together with road vehicle registrations, SO does the road death RATE.
No matter how optimistic the government tries to be, the reality is VERY different.
As a cloaking mechanism to the official version that we are interested in YOUR safety, the huge benefit is REVENUE.
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